Advent - Love and Joy

The third and fourth advent candles stand for love and joy.  John, in the first words of his gospel, tells us that the Word that was at the beginning of creation, became flesh and blood at the birth of Jesus.  He was God in human form and the way he lived and the things he taught were to show us the Father.  Look to Jesus and we see God.  His love is unconditional.  Until that point in time the Jewish nation had laws that they had to obey in order to 'please God' but Jesus shows us that God is love and he loves his creation no matter what.  He doesn't put conditions on us.  He just asks us to accept him, as we are.  We could never earn his love, although some seem to try and feel that if they comply with certain rules then they are more pleasing to God.  

Jesus came to show us that the special relationship that had hitherto been between God and the 'chosen' race of Israel, was now for all.  Again as the well known verse in John's gospel says, 'God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son so that whoever believes in him might be saved'.  It is for everyone, without exception, without condition.  That is perfect love.  Love came down at Christmas!


A very popular song that we sing at Christmas is Joy to the World.  I think that the greatest joy at Christmas is not about the gifts received or given but when families can meet together and enjoy each other's company.  Of course I am well aware that not everyone is so blessed.  Some live alone and have no-one to share with, others live a long way away and are unable to meet up.  But when families can, it is indeed a great joy.  God's family is more than those who belong to a particular religion who might feel that they have the truth and are the sons of the Almighty.  Humanity is his creation.  We are all his children in the sense that he made us all.  Jesus came for all the world.  

God is love and it gives him great joy to share his love with his creation.  He shares his love with us in a special way through the birth of Jesus at this time of year and he also wants to share his joy with us, as we experience joy by sharing with others.  There will indeed be joy in heaven when this earthly family of humanity can live together and enjoy celebrating his love in whatever way they choose and are accepted in so doing.  God did not intend that his human creation should be a dysfunctional family, always arguing and fighting with each other.  His will is that all humanity can share together and enjoy what he has created on this planet, our home in the universe.  He wants us to live as one and reflect his unconditional love to each other.  May you know his love this Christmas and experience the joy of sharing and being together with others as God's big human family.

What a Life!

Ben Fogle in Laos

I am currently enjoying the miniseries on television with Ben Fogle - New Lives in the Wild (Mondays channel 5  at 9 pm - UK)  He visits people who have opted out of the rat race and spends a week with them discovering just why they do what they do and have decided to live where they live.  The first one in the current series was about a 31 year old former financier from London who one day decided that there was more to life than work and the financial world he lived in.  He was searching for a place where he could be happy.  He bought a one-way ticket and set out for Asia.  He eventually settled in a hand made bamboo hut on a hidden jungle island on the Mekong river, Laos.  He lives like all the other people there and is accepted as one of them. 


Another 61 year old woman from Europe has lived alone for the past 8 years (since her husband died) in a part of the remote outback in Australia caring for the wildlife surrounding her home and a herd of wild horses who come to her when she calls them.  She also was looking for something more than what money can buy.

I saw somewhere this week the words - Making a Living or Making a Life.  Sometimes they are the same thing but more often than not there is a big gap between the two phrases.  Of course we need to work in order to have the things that we need.  Most people work at ordinary jobs so they can enjoy a form of reasonable life.  There our times when our lives seem to be governed by money - paying for this or that essential. (or what we in 21st century Britain accept as essential for life).  Do I buy because I need something or because it's the latest in thing, a 'must have' in order to have some sort of acceptance in society (if that is important to us)?


The thing is that in time most people come to realise that all the stuff that money buys us may make us comfortable but often there is still a space deep down, yearning for real happiness.  The things money can buy are of this world and this life and  have to stay here when we leave this life.  We cannot take them with us.  We have to leave them behind.  So why do we do it?  Why do we work ourselves to the bone so we can have more money to buy more stuff?  If that is your dream and it really makes you happy, fair enough.  But as the Beatles used to sing, 'Can't buy me love'.  You can buy diamond rings or flashy cars or dine out to impress but they don't guarantee love.  You can't buy peace.  You can't buy a happy homelife.  You can't buy acceptance or understanding.  I'm sure you could add more to the list.  So what do we do?  We need to make a living  to a certain extent but do we need to do it at the expense of making a life with things that money can't buy?  




I am reminded of something Banksy shared on Twitter (picture right)


I think that's a good note to end on and leave us thinking about our lives and what are the important things for us.